Young Writers Society

Will

Will stood on a smaller floating platform nearby, watching Hev and the professor circle around each other on the larger platform. He looked down at the lake beneath them and gulped.

The professor gave Hev a vicious grin. “The rules are straightforward enough. Whoever is first to step off the platform loses. Whimsies are allowed, as well as whatever weapons you have on you.”

Hev nodded. "Sounds fair enough." He peered into the water below. It didn't seem deadly, just like regular water. He slid into the fighting position Malvis had taught him. "Let's begin."

The professor gestured for him to stop. "Wait."

He cocked his head to the side. "Yes?"

Will watched Hev and the professor nervously. Duels were a fairly common occurrence in Weapons class, and people weren’t usually seriously injured, but the school doctor was kept on standby just in case. Will considered running and getting him right now, but he didn’t want to leave Hev for too long…

“One last thing before the duel,” the professor said.

Hev gestured for him to continue. "And what would that be?"

"What is your whimsy?"

Hev sighed. "Tell me yours first."

Professor Haagen arched an eyebrow. "Have it your way. My whimsy is conjuring ice cream. Do not underestimate me, however!" The professor twirled his revolver in one hand and made a twisting motion with his other wrist. A shield popped into existence, clear except for a sparkly Hello Kitty decal in the center.

Will gulped. It was the kitty shield of doom...

"Now then. Your whimsy, please?"

Hev hummed. Maybe ice cream was something different in America.

He held out his hand, spreading his fingers ever so slightly, and summoned his flame.

Fire sprouted to life in his palm, flickering as if it were simply a small wood fire. “This is my whimsy.”

"Ah! Firebending!" The professor looked positively delighted. "I haven't seen that in, oh, a decade perhaps! Wonderful. Let's have a go, child." Professor Haagen grinned at Hev, then glanced at Will. "William, would you mind counting us down?"

"S-sure." Will gave him a wobbly smile. "Three... two... one... begin!"

Hev narrowed his eyes at him, trying to figure the best way to safely knock him off without injuring him. He tried to side-sweep the professor, kicking his ankles with his heel.

The professor gave a neat hop and landed on the other side of Hev's foot. "Don't hold back, kid." Professor Haagen fired his revolver rapidly at the ground, releasing black bullets that expanded upon impact. "I certainly won't." The professor grinned as the "bullets" quickly took the shape of spiders and cockroaches that clambered onto Hev's legs.

Hev sighed. “Really? Spiders?” He picked one up and tossed it aside. “Now that’s just distasteful.”

He formed a small orb of fire and threw it at the professor.

"Hm, so no arachnophobia..." The professor deflected the fireball with his Hello Kitty shield. Will hopped back in terror as the orb of fire flew past, about a foot away from his face.

Professor Haagen toggled something on his revolver, then aimed for Hev's face. "Paintball, anyone?"

Hev stopped the fire in midair and sent it flying back to the professor, his face remaining entirely neutral. He was downplaying his abilities, letting the professor get comfortable. Malvis always said that was the best way to win a fight.

“Are you just going to try new strange things to fire at me until I surrender?”

Professor Haagen grinned. "Perhaps." He leaned to the side, fired a splotch of paint at Hev's eyes, then charged straight at Hev with his shield held in front of him. "Perhaps not."

Hev easily side-stepped. “Pausing dramatically in the middle of your sentences tends to give away your strategy.” He whipped the paint out of his eyes. “On all bases, you’re a terrible fighter.”

The professor went silent at that, and Will tried not to giggle. Professor Haagen did have a liking for dramatics.

Professor Haagen swiveled right before he would've fallen off the platform and stalked back towards Hev. He cocked his revolver again and aimed at Hev's feet. A barrage of bubble-gum bullets blasted out of the gun.